Most Italian publications and news spaces highlight this criterion expressed the day before by the Russian president during a press conference in Saint Petersburg, within the framework of the International Economic Forum that meets in that city, where he acknowledged that in this country it does not extend “caveman Russophobia”.
In a report published on the digital news site of the RAI News television channel, Putin’s statement is cited, who, in response to a question posed by the ANSA news agency, expressed that “we see Italy’s position as more contained than that of other European countries and we take it due account”.
“We hope that when the situation in Ukraine begins to stabilize we can restore relations with Italy, perhaps even faster than with other countries,” added the Russian leader, who asserted that the supply of Western weapons to kyiv is very dangerous, especially if providers control their use.
On May 26, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini pointed out that the leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Jens Stoltenberg, “either retracts or resigns,” after evaluating Ukraine’s attacks on Russia with weapons of that block.
Salvini, president of the conservative League party, asserted that the weapons delivered by Italy and other NATO countries to kyiv are for defense and not for use in Russian territory.
For his part, the chancellor and also deputy prime minister, Antonio Tajani, emphasized in relation to this matter that “we do not want the weapons sent from Italy to be used beyond the borders of Ukraine.”
The Italian Foreign Minister also categorically rejected the possible sending by Rome of soldiers to fight on Ukrainian territory, and reaffirmed that “we are not at war with Russia.”
“kyiv’s decisions are kyiv’s decisions, but we will not send Italian soldiers to Ukraine and the military instruments sent by Italy are used inside Ukraine, we work for peace,” said Tajani, and recalled that “we are an integral part of NATO.” , but every decision must be made collegially.”
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